Coin counting device



May 20, 1941.

A. N. WAGNER COIN COUNTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1938 a Il',

Patented May 20, 1941 LITE STTS GFFICE.

COIN COUNTING DEVISE Albert N. Wagner, Cary, Ill.

Application September 8, 1938, Serial No. 228,883

(Cl. 13S-1) 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in means for receiving andautomatically counting coins of given denominations and has for its mainobject to provide a very simple, cheap, efcient and portable device ofthis character which may be made in sizes to receive coins ofrespectively different denominations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin receiving andcounting device which will receive and retain only the predeterminednumber of coins desired to be received therein for purposes such assubsequently disposing said coins in conventional coin wrappers used bybanks etc. etc.

A very essential object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter dened, which may be held in the hand in a substantiallypredetermined position ior the reception of coins in its upper endportion, to effect the automatic counting and positioning of said coinsin a substantially stacked relation, regardless of the variations inthicknesses of the coins of the denomination for which the particulardevice is adapted.

Other objects of the invention will be readily understood from or areparticularly set forthin the following specification.

A suitable embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a coin receiving and counting deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, fragmentary detail sectional views onan enlarged scale taken on the lines 3 3 and 4 4, respectively of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail vertical longitudinal sectional view ofthe lower end portion of the device as shown in Fig. 2.

The device of the present invention comprises a tube I, composed of asuitable material, which is substantially elliptical in cross section,the inner largest diameter of said tube being substantially equal tothat of the coins of a given denomination which the tube is intended toreceive.

In the instance illustrated we will assume that the device is adapted toreceive the coins commonly known in this country as nickels The longerdiameter of the tube I is slightly greater than the diameter of the coinof the denomination for the reception of which the tube is designed. Theshorter diameter of the tube is such, in the instance illustrated, thatit is equal to. the vertical leg of an equilateral right angledtriangle, the hypotenuse of which is of a length equal to the longerdiameter of said tube. This is further explained hereinafter.

The tube is adapted to be normally disposed at an angle of 45 degrees,more or less, to a horizontal plane and in such position that thevertical piane of the axis of the tube is coincident with its shortestdiameter and' is perpendicular to the said horizontal plane.

Along the upper wall of the tube, when so positioned, and disposed inintersecting relation to the vertical plane of the axis of said tube,there is provided a series. of spaced apart recessesv 2 extendingtransversely of the longitudinal axis of the tube with the walls of saidrecesses disposed at angles of degrees to each other and at an angle of45 degrees to the axis of the tube. This specified relation of the wallsof said recesses to the longitudinal axis of the tube may be changed andVaried to an appreciable extent, but for purposes of illustration anddescription it is assumed that angles of 90 degrees and 45 degrees,respectively, are selected.

By reference to Fig. 5, wherein the recesses 2 are shown most clearly,it will be noted that each recess has a top wall 3 disposed in ahorizontal plane and which is of a length equal to the normal thicknessof a coin 4, such as a nickel, adapted to be received within said tubeI. The vertical walls 5 of said recesses` are vertically disposed andare spaced equidistantly from each other throughout the length of thetube. The Wall portion 6 of the tube I diametrically opposed to therecesses 2, is smooth and affords support for the edges of the nickels 4shown, which, when inserted into the tube, slide down along theperipheral wall thereof until the lower edge of the first coin strikesthe closure of its lower end and becomes substantially verticallydisposed with its upper edge opposed to the lowermost wall 3.

In the instance illustrated, the lower end of the tube is cut away at anangle of 45 degrees to the axis of the tube. A closure gate receivingand guiding member 'I is suitably secured by means of flanges orprojections 3 to the side wall portion of the tube I adjacent its lowerend and is equipped with L-shaped vertical side ilanges 9 which providegrooves to receive the side edge portions of the closure gate Il); thelatter being equipped with a digitally engageable iiange II at its upperedge for digital manipulation to open and close the discharge end of thetube for effecting discharge by gravity of the coins disposed within thesame.

, are approximately parallel.

Mounted upon the upper end portion of the tube I is a funnel I2. Thelatter being equipped with a discharge opening I3 leading into the tube,said opening being smaller than the open end of the tube opposedthereto. Said opening vis bordered by a ange I4 which telescopicallyreceives the upper end portion of the tube I and which is suitablysecured thereto.

In the instance illustrated, or as would be true of the structure whendesigned to receive nickels, the total number of the upper walls 3 ofthe recesses 2 will be forty, with the lowest one of said walls 3disposed immediately adjacent the gate I0. The uppermost wall 3 of theseries is disposed immediately adjacent the upper extremity of the tubeI. Adjacent to the portion of the wall of the tube equipped with saidrecesses 2, there are provided `slots I5 through which the edges of thecoins are visible. A graduated scale is imprinted or otherwise impressedupon the exterior surface of the tube I as shown in Fig. 1 to indicatethe number of Vnickels contained within the tube which are vis- -iblethrough said slots I5.

The lowermost portion I6 of the wall of the lfunnel I2 as shown in Fig.2, is preferably bowed inwardly to the point at which said wall meetsthe shoulder portion I7 extending downwardly to meet the said ilange I4.

In use the device is held in substantially the position shown in Fig. 2and nickels may be dropped into the funnel I2 and when delivered intothe tube, will be positioned to slide along the end between the sidewall portions Vthereof until the first of said coins strikes the saidgate Said coin will then become disposed in contact and parallel withsaid gate I0 with its upper edge portion disposed closely adjacent toand Vopposed to the horizontal shoulder of the lower- The nextsucceeding coin will inst-mentioned coin, or, in the event that the rstcoin should be slightly thinner than the Vsecond-mentioned coin, thelatter will become very slightly angularly disposed relatively7 to thesame with its upper edge portion abutting the lowermost verticalshoulder of the next lowermost recess 2 next behind the preceding coin.As each coin reachesthe lower limit of its travel within the tube, itwill become substantially vertically disposed and the upper edge of eachof said coins, whether of normal thickness or worn,

vwill become disposed in one of the recesses 2; itV being impossible, byreason of the cross-sectional -dimensions of the'tube, for any coin tobecome disposed in any other relation to other coins or to the recesses2 than is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.

As the coins slide downwardly in the tube, their side edge portionscontact with the side wall portions of the tube with the faces of thecoin disposed substantially parallel with the axis of the tube and at anangle of about fortyiive degrees to a vertical plane extendingtransversely of the tube and with which the gate of the latter and coinspreviously fed into the tube When the lower edge portion of thetraveling coin strikes either the gate or a face of a previouslyinserted coin,

said lower edge will be projected downwardly, thus rotating the cointhrough a short arc about a horizontal axis disposed transversely of andin approximately intersecting relation to the axis of Vthe tube.

Following this short arc rotation of the coin, its movement becomesarcuate about the lowermost edge portion of the coin as a fulcrum untilthe upper edge portion of the coin is disposed in the recess 2immediately behind that which contains the upper edge portion of thenext preceding coin.

As the upper substantially horizontal wall of each recess 2 is the samewidth as the thickness of a new or unworn coin of the denomination forwhich the tube is intended, and the distance between said upper Wall andthe substantially vertically opposed point in the lowermost wall portionof the tube is only very slightly greater than the diameter of a newcoin of the said denomination, it follows that no recess 2 can receivethe upper edges of two coins unless the latter are worn down to abouthalf their initial thickness, but as such coins are never incirculation, the same being taken out of circulation as soon as theirfaces are so worn as to be unreadable, there is no danger of more thanone coin being received for each recess 2. Experience has shown thateven if a number of badly worn coins are fed successively into the tubethey become progressively canted to a greater degree within the tubewith their lowermost edge portions spaced less distance from the gatethan the vertical shoulders of the corresponding recesses 2, but even insuch extreme cases, the total number of coins capable of being receivedwithin the tube is limited to the number of horizontal shoulders of thestepped formation formed by the recess 2.

The elliptical cross sectional shape of the tube is very essentialbecause of the canted position of the coins which renders necessary thatthe vertical diameter of the tube shall be slightly greater than that ofthe coins in the planes of the latter or in the planes parallel with thegate while the horizontal diameter must be slightly greater than thediameters of the coins. If the tube were cylindrical and of thelast-mentioned iameter, then the stepped upper wall portion thereofcontaining the recesses 2 would be required to project inwardly from theadjacent parts of the tube a distance suicient to space the same anequal distance from the bottom or diametrically opposed portion of thetube, as is true of the elliptical tube. If this were not done theVangularly disposed coins would not engage in the recesses 2.

The last vcoin of the entire number is disposed practically in suchclose proximity to the mouth of the funnel as to constitute a closurefor the latter. The lower edge portion of said last coin will bedisposed in overlapping relation to the shoulder I'I and regardless ofhow many relatively thin coins of the given denomination are fed intothe tube, there will not be enough space between the uppermost of saidcoins and said shoulder I I to receive another coin of the saiddenomination.

In the instance illustrated, coins in excess of the number (forty)intended to be received within the tube, will remain disposed upon thelower wall of the funnel with the upper edge portion thereof overlappingthe front substantially vertical wall portion of the funnel. When anexcess number of coins is fed into the funnel, the tube may be invertedto discharge sai-d excess coins from the funnel without causing any ofthe predetermined number disposed within the tube -to be discharged.rIfhis is due to the fact that upon inverting the tube I, the pressureof the entire stack of coins is exerted against the upper coin ofthetube to Vfirmly compress the same against said shoulder il, thuspreventing said coinfrom being displaced or canted to become disengagedfrom the uppermost recess 2.

The coins are discharged by gravity very easily and quickly by openingthe gate it, as will be obvious. f

I claim as my invention:

1. A Ycoin receiving tube of substantially elliptical cross-section andhaving its greater diameter substantially equal to the diameter of coinsof the denominations intended to be received in said tube, the tubebeing equipped with a bottom wall extending angularly to the tube axis,a series of equally spaced apart shoulders disposed midway of a wall ofgreater radius of said tube throughout the length thereof and parallelwith said bottom wall and equally spaced from the other wall of largerradius, a series of similar shoulders extending transversely to andalternated with said rst named shoulders and to said bottom wall andeach thereof equal in width to the normal thickness of said coins, saidfirst named shoulders constituting stops adapted to engage face portionsof coins and saidsecond named shoulders adapted to become opposed toedge portions of successive coins dropped into said tube, the last-namedshoulders being spaced from the opposed Wall of the tube a distancesubstantially equal to the coin diameter, said bottom wall functioningto cause the rst coin dropped into the tube to rest upon said bottomwall over its entire `face and said first coin and succeeding coinsbeing caused by the preceding coin to become disposed successively alongan edge portion in face contact With said rstnamed and substantially inedge contact with said second-named shoulders.

2. A device of the type specified comprising a noncylindrical tubehaving a diameter substantially equal to that of coins of a givendenomination adapted to be received in said tube and being of lessdiameter perpendicularly of its rst-named diameter, a series ofsubstantially equal shoulders disposed upon an inner wall of the tubespaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the normalthickness of said coins and extending angularly of the axis of the tubein intersecting relation to the plane of the shorter` diameter of thelatter, said tube being open at its upper end and equipped at its lowerend with a coin face engaging means for causing the first coin depositedin the tube to be disposed substantially parallel with the plane of thelowermost of said shoulders.

3. A device of the type speciiied including a r tube of substantiallyelliptical cross section having its largest inner diameter substantiallyequal to that of a coin of given denomination, said tube open at itsupper end and equipped with a closure at its lower end disposed in aplane extending angularly to the axial plane of longest diameter of saidtube and perpen-dicularly to the axial shortest diameter plane of saidtube, and a series of coin edge supporting shoulders disposed parallelvvith the plane of said closure and which are of equal depth and spacedfrom each other a distance equal to the normal thickness of the coindisposed along the inner wall of said tube and in intersecting relationto the shortest diameter axial plane of said tube, the said shortestdiameter being such that coins engaged with said shoulders and disposedsubstantially parallel with said closure plane will bear upon theportion of the wall of the tube opposed to said shoulders.

4. A device of the type specied including a coin receiving tube adaptedto be 4disposed angularly to a horizontal plane and which is open at itsupper end, a closure for the lower end of the tube disposed to extendsubstantially perpendicularly to said horizontal plane and extendingangularly of the tube axis, said tube being of less inner diameter inthe Vertical plane of its axis than a coin of given denomination adaptedto be received therein and being of inner diameter substantially equalto that of the coin in the plane of the tube axis extending transverselyof said vertical plane, the upper inclined wallof said tube equippedwith a series of equal and equally spaced apart shoulders disposed insubstantially vertical planes parallel with said closure plane, saidshoulders spaced from each other a distance equal to the normalthickness of coins of said denomination and cooperating with the closureand the diametrically opposed portion of the tube to cause coinsinserted successively intor said tube to become disposed substantiallyparallel with each other with the upper edge portion of each oi saidcoins engaged with one of said shoulders.

5. A device `of the kind specified comprising a substantially ellipticaltube equipped along the inner face of a wall thereof in intersectingrelation to the shortest diameter axial plane of said tube with a seriesof equal shoulders disposed at an angle of substantially forty-fivedegrees to the tube axis, said shoulders spaced from each other adistance substantially equal to the normal thickness of coins of a givendenomination to be inserted into the open end of said tube and being sospaced from the -diametrically opposed Wall portion of said tube as tocause said coins to be engaged along an edge portion of each by one ofsaid shoulders when disposed substantially parallel with the latter andengaged along diametrically opposed edge portion upon said opposed wallportion, and means at the bottom of said tube to cause the rst insertedcoin to be disposed in said last-named position, the largest innerdiameter of -said tube being substantially equal to the diameter of thecoin.

6. A device of the type specified comprising a coin receiving tubehaving a large diameter and a smaller diameter disposed perpendicular toeach other, said tube adapted to be disposed at an incline to ahorizontal plane and equipped at its lower end with a closure gate whichis vertically disposed when said tube is inclined as aforesaid, andwhich extends angularly to the tube axis, said tube having its largerdiameter slightly greater than that of the coins intended to be receivedtherein, a saw-tooth rack mounted in the uppermost portion of said tubeparallel with its axis and presenting Successive shoulders disposedperpendicularly to the plane of the closure gate and each of a lengthequal to the normal thickness of one of said coins, the other shouldersof said rack being parallel with the plane of said closure gate andopposing the upper edge portions of said coins, said iirst-namedshoulders being spaced from lowest points in the tube intersected by theplanes of the secondnamed shoulders a `distance substantially equal tothe larger diameter of the said tube.

'7. A device of the type set forth comprising a tube adapted to bedisposed at a given angle to a horizontal surface to cause coinsinserted into the open upper end thereof to move by gravity into itslower end, said tube equipped at its lower end with a stop operating tocause the first coin deposited in said tube to become verticallydisposed automatically, the lateral diameter of the said tube beingsubstantially equal to the normal diameter of coins of the denominationadapted to be received therein, the upper and lower` wall of said tubebeing spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of said coins, one

Vof said last-named Walls being equipped with a equal to the said coindiameter and becoming opposed to circumferential edge portions ofsuccessively inserted coins, the length of each of said horizontal Wallsbeing substantially equal to the normal thickness of a said coin, saidvertical Walls being parallel With Ysaid closure and the lowest one ofthe series spaced therefrom a distance equal to the length of said hori-Zontal Walls and serving to cause coins of the same or differentthicknesses to become substantially equally spaced apart and limitingthe number of coins receivable in the tube to equal the number of saidstep formations.

8. A coin receiving tube of substantially elliptical cross-sectionalshape equipped with a rack mounted midway between the side edges of aWall of greater radius of said tube, said rack presenting a series ofalternate V-shaped projections and recesses the faces of which aredisposed at substantially equal angles to the tube axis, one face ofeach of said projections being of a Width equal to the normal thicknessof coins of the denomination intended to be received in said tube andthe number of said projections being equal to the predetermined numberof coins to be received within said tube, the greater diameter of thelatter being substantially equal to the diameter of said coins, saidtube equipped with a bottom Wall extending parallel With the other facesof said projections and adapted to function to cause the rst coindropped into the tube to lie parallel With said Wall and said last-namedfaces of said projections and cause an edge portion thereof to engage aface of the lowermost V-shaped formation of said rack non- `parallelWith said bottom wall each succeeding coin being automatically disposedsubstantially parallel With the next preceding coin and with an edgeportion thereof disposed in engagement with the next higher face of therack parallel with said bottom Wall.

^ Y ALBERT N. WAGNER.

